Hull FC began their preparations for the 2018 season on Monday but not every player in the 31-man squad has reported so far.

This is due to be a pre-season markedly different to last year when the majority of the squad arrived at their County Road training facility on the first day.

An array of issues including the presence of the Rugby League World Cup means that this time around Hull’s coaching staff will have to contend with more in terms of players beginning practice at different times.

This week the majority of the squad involved has been young guns and fringe members. In terms of senior players looking to nail down a gameday team spot next year, there is only really Jake Connor, Jordan Abdull and Dean Hadley around.

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That will change next week when the likes of full-back Jamie Shaul report back to training for the first time.

But that won’t mean everyone from the squad will be in training with some seniors including Liam Watts expected back on Tuesday, November 28.

Also eyeing up a first day of pre-season at the same time as Watts is new signing Mickey Paea, who is returning to the club from Newcastle Knights.

RETURNING TO HULL FC: Mickey Paea

Then there will be those who report for practice next month. Winger Fetuli Talanoa has headed home for the off-season and isn’t due back until mid-December, in large part attributed to his injury-riddled 2017 campaign as FC allow him to recover.

Expected in the building around the same time is new signing Bureta Faraimo, whose World Cup campaign is now over after playing three times for USA.

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Mark Minichiello, 35, has also seen his World Cup journey end after captaining Italy but due to his age and workload last season, he’ll see little action before 2018. The back rower is anticipated to come in late December for some minor work before he has extra time off over Christmas.

Just like fellow internationals Scott Taylor (England) and Sika Manu (Tonga), Minichiello and the aforementioned duo won’t really get into the grind of the pre-season until early January. It’s quite likely that the trio take the field for a small portion of just one of the trial games next year.